Rose plant named ‘Evera 179’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Rose plant named ‘Evera179’, characterized by its upright and rounded plant habit; dark green-colored leaflets; freely branching growth habit; freely flowering habit; large double light salmon pink-colored flowers; flowers held upright on strong and erect peduncles; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Rose hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Evera179’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Rose plant, botanically known as Rosa hybrida, commercially used as a potted Rose, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Evera179’.

The new Rose is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Fåborg, Denmark. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new uniform potted Rose varieties with novel and attractive flower colors, disease resistance and excellent postproduction longevity.

The new cultivar originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor on Mar. 1, 2004 of a proprietary Rose selection identified as code number 04-0179, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unnamed Rose selection, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The cultivar Evera179 was discovered and selected by the Inventor on Feb. 10, 2005 as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Fåborg, Denmark.

Asexual reproduction of the new Rose by cuttings at Fåborg, Denmark since Dec. 1, 2005, has shown that the unique features of this new Rose are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Evera179’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Evera179’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Upright and rounded plant habit.     -   2. Dark green-colored leaflets.     -   3. Freely branching growth habit.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Large double light salmon pink-colored flowers.     -   6. Flowers held upright on strong and erect peduncles.     -   7. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Rose differ from plants of the parent selections in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Rose and the parent selections differ in         plant habit.     -   2. Plants of the new Rose and the parent selections differ in         flower color.

Plants of the new Rose can be compared to plants of the Rose cultivar Evera 121, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,034. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Fåborg, Denmark, plants of the new Rose differed from plants of the cultivar Evera 121 in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Rose had longer internodes than plants of         the cultivar Evera 121.     -   2. Plants of the new Rose had larger leaves than plants of the         cultivar Evera 121.     -   3. Plants of the new Rose had larger petals than plants of the         cultivar Evera 121.     -   4. Plants of the new Rose had more stamens and pistils per         flower than plants of the cultivar Evera 121.     -   5. Plants of the new Rose and the cultivar Evera 121 differed in         flower color as plants of the cultivar Evera 121 had         pink-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Rose, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Rose. The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Ever179’ grown in a container. The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flower of ‘Evera179’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Rose has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The aforementioned photographs, following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the autumn and winter in Fåborg, Denmark, in a glass-covered greenhouse and under commercial production practices. Plants were pinched one time and were about 12 to 14 weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 22° C., night temperatures averaged 21° C. and light levels were about 20,000 lux. Three cuttings were grown in 15-cm containers. Plants used in the description represent a single plant. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Rosa hybrida cultivar Evera179. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of             Rosa hybrida identified as code number 04-0179, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed selection of Rosa hybrida,             not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About ten to twelve days at 24° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About four weeks at             24° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, fleshy, medium thickness; white             in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form.—Upright and rounded plant habit.         -   Growth habit.—Moderately vigorous. Freely branching habit;             about three lateral branches develop from the pinch; dense             and bushy growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 30 cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—About 25 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 23 cm to 28 cm. Diameter:             About 3 mm. Internode length: About 2.5 cm to 4 cm.             Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to             146B. Thorns: Density: None to about three per linear cm.             Shape: Triangular with sharp acuminate apices. Height: About             6 mm to 8 mm. Diameter, at base: About 2 mm to 3 mm. Color,             immature: Close to 160A. Color, mature: Close to 173D. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; compound with three to five leaflets             per leaf; occasionally seven leaflets.         -   Leaf length.—About 10 cm to 11 cm.         -   Terminal leaflet length.—About 5 cm to 6 cm.         -   Length leaflet length.—About 3 cm to 5 cm.         -   Leaf width.—About 8 cm to 10 cm.         -   Terminal leaflet width.—About 3.5 cm to 4 cm.         -   Lateral leaflet width.—About 2.2 cm to 3.5 cm.         -   Leaflet shape.—Ovate.         -   Leaflet apex.—Acuminate.         -   Leaflet base.—Obtuse.         -   Leaflet margin.—Serrate.         -   Leaflet texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;             leathery.         -   Leaflet venation pattern.—Pinnate; reticulate.         -   Leaflet color.—Developing leaflets, upper surface: Darker             than 137A. Developing leaflets, lower surface: Close to 147B             tinted with close to 59A. Fully developed, upper surface:             Close to 147A; venation, close to 146A. Fully developed,             lower surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 146C.         -   Petioles.—Leaf petiole length: About 2.5 cm to 3.5 cm.             Leaflet petiole length: About 2 mm. Leaf petiole diameter:             About 1 mm to 1.5 mm. Leaflet petiole diameter: About 1 mm.             Leaf petiole texture, upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous;             rough. Leaflet petiole texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous. Leaf and leaflet petiole color, upper             surface: Close to 146A tinted with close to 59A. Leaf and             leaflet petiole color, lower surface: Close to 146A to 146B.         -   Stipules.—Quantity: Two per leaf. Length: About 1.3 cm to             1.5 cm. Width: About 1 mm to 2.5 mm. Shape: Lanceolate.             Apex: Acuminate. Base: Truncate; sessile. Margin:             Irregularly serrate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous; leathery. Color, upper surface: Close to             137A. Color, lower surface: Close to 137B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Large double light salmon             pink-colored flowers with numerous petals. Consistently             symmetrical rosette flowers. Flowers borne singly on erect             and strong peduncles; one terminal flower per lateral             branch. Flowers persistent.         -   Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions,             optimal flowering from spring through autumn under garden             conditions; flowering intermittent. Plants being flowering             about 78 days after planting.         -   Flower diameter.—About 5 cm to 7 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 3.5 cm to 4 cm.         -   Flower longevity on plant.—About two weeks.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flower buds (at stage of showing color).—Shape: Ovoid.             Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 1.2 cm to 1.4 cm.             Color: Close to 144A.         -   Petals.—Quantity: Numerous; about 70 per flower arranged in             numerous whorls. Length: About 4 cm to 4.5 cm. Width: About             4.3 cm to 5.1 cm. Shape: Broadly obovate. Apex: Acute. Base:             Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny. Color: When opening,             upper surface: Close to 56C. When opening, lower surface:             Close to 55D. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 12D;             towards the margin, 27C; with development, close to 16D.             Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 34A; towards the             margin, 36D.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five. Length: About             2.5 cm to 3.5 cm. Width: About 0.7 cm to 1 cm. Shape:             Lanceolate. Apex: Sharply pointed. Base: Truncate. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent; leathery. Color: When             opening, upper surface: Close to 147C. When opening, lower             surface: Close to 144A. Fully expanded, upper surface: More             green than 191A. Fully expanded, lower surface: Close to             144A.         -   Peduncles.—Strength: Strong; flexible. Aspect: Mostly erect.             Length: About 2 cm to 4 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm to 4 mm.             Texture: Rough. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: About 70 per flower.             Anther length: About 2 mm to 3 mm. Anther shape: Reniform.             Anther color: Close to 16A. Filament color: Close to 1D.             Pollen amount: None observed. Pistils: Quantity: About 80             per flower. Pistil length: About 1 mm. Stigma color: Close             to 5C. Style length: About 3 mm to 4 mm. Style color: Close             to 145D. Receptacle shape: Cup to bowl-shaped. Receptacle             height: About 7 mm. Receptacle diameter: About 1 cm.             Receptacle texture: Smooth, glabrous. Receptacle color:             Close to 144A. Seed/fruit: Seed and fruit production has not             been observed. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Rose have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Roses. 

1. A new and distinct Rose plant named ‘Evera179’ as illustrated and described. 